How to drop subtle hints with my nursing students about faith.
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Hi all! I am a new clinical nursing instructor and am wondering how to drop hints if possible about having faith. Especially as these are future nurses. I know that carrying the love of Christ... Read More

I once had a professor tell me I was only allowed to drink water in her class because she hated carbonated drinks. She would only let us have water and green tea. That is called forcing someone's beliefs on another person.
VOICING your beliefs TO another person is not forcing them on someone. The prior is wrong and inappropriate, the latter is not.

If the person doing the "voicing" is in a position of power over the other person, like a nursing instructor talking to a nursing student, then, yes, it is forcing your beliefs on someone. The coercion is built in as a function of the power imbalance inherent in the relationship.

And it's not wrong to kick someone out of their teaching position for they're sexual preference or world view? But it's right to kick them out and cost them their livelihood for their religious affiliation. Explain that logic to me, please. It makes no sense to me.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if its not your own. You want your opinion to not be offended, but what about me being offended by your opinion? It's a two-way street.

It isn't right to kick someone out of their teaching position for their world view or sexual preference, as far as I'm concerned. Nor for their religious affiliation. However, anyone who wants to risk their professional position in order to preach their world view, religious affiliation or sexual preference is asking to be fired. The concern isn't their views, it's inflicting their views on others. Many born again Christians -- or religious fundamentalists in general -- do not seem to understand that others find it offensive when they preach at us.

It isn't right to kick someone out of their teaching position for their world view or sexual preference, as far as I'm concerned. Nor for their religious affiliation. However, anyone who wants to risk their professional position in order to preach their world view, religious affiliation or sexual preference is asking to be fired. The concern isn't their views, it's inflicting their views on others. Many born again Christians -- or religious fundamentalists in general -- do not seem to understand that others find it offensive when they preach at us.

I'm offended that you're offended at me being open about my world view.

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate everyone one of them. Its awesome to have my eyes opened to differences of opinions. I take it all in stride, no need to get offended. Life is beautiful....no need to pick up an offense....ever.

Students who are stressed, distraught, disappointed, etc. I would approach students in the same manner as I would approach my patients. You wouldn't tell your patients to pray, at least I hope not. You ask the student about his or her hx & what was done in that time for coping. With this, you may find students who state s/he prays, you may find the opposite; that will steer your conversation.

I am put off my random individuals in the market who approach me with attending his/her service or any of the sort. Example, I was speaking today and was told husband would not be appropriate for me to use d/t me being a gay male. The other nurse, whom I am close with, suggested spouse is more politically correct( I believe more acceptable to not bring light to my sexual preference). If all people held the same values as they oppose on others maybe there wouldn't be as much chaos in the work place.

I will say to you, the workplace is no time for personal values or private lives to become intertwined. You seem to have a strong faith base ,and with that normally comes a strong faith group. I would restrict my values to those who know me best!

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate everyone one of them. Its awesome to have my eyes opened to differences of opinions. I take it all in stride, no need to get offended. Life is beautiful....no need to pick up an offense....ever.

And it's not wrong to kick someone out of their teaching position for they're sexual preference or world view? But it's right to kick them out and cost them their livelihood for their religious affiliation. Explain that logic to me, please. It makes no sense to me.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if its not your own. You want your opinion to not be offended, but what about me being offended by your opinion? It's a two-way street.

If you can not justify your position without attacking another I.E. sexual preferences or world view( I assume this means politics), you have lost the argument. Word of advice: You are new to the professional world of healthcare. Politics, religion, and sex should never be discussed in a public place. By the way, sexual preference is a being not a belief or opinion, politics and religion are!

Seriously, I am seeing far too many people taking religion, politics, sexual preference, etc. far too seriously; they are occupying their very being with that stuff. As a result, they often miss that which is really important. Lose a friend or relative to cancer, and the shallow stuff does not matter, but to some it does. Become personally injured or ill, and the shallow stuff should not matter, but it often does.

Oh, come on. What about polytheistic religions? What about nature-based religions? Of course saying "In God we Trust" is putting one (or, at best, some) religion over others. Of course it is. Use critical thinking.

I'm offended that you're offended at me being open about my world view.

Seems like a giant circle imho.

A nursing instructor can have any religion or world view or whatever that they want. What they can't do is use the classroom to promote said religion/political view/whatever.

"Being open" about being a Christian simply means, well, that you're open about the fact that you happen to be a Christian. Constantly talking about it and preaching to others about it is not "being open". It's proselytizing. And it's completely unethical for a teacher to abuse his position of trust and authority to do so with his students.